Keeping bubs safe and sound

Recent data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit at Monash University reveals that prams are not as safe as they should be – far from it.

Over a three-year period, 584 children in Victoria under age four ended up in hospital after a pram accident, the Surveillance Unit confirmed.

Testing in the CHOICE laboratories would support this data.

During our recent tests, only 22 out of 68 single strollers passed all the major safety tests – a failure rate of 67%.

Double strollers came out even worse. Only six out of 24 passed all the major safety tests, meaning three-quarters of them failed.

Note: The terms "pram" and "stroller" tend to be used fairly loosely and can be used for the same product. Broadly, "stroller" often refers to a model with an upright seat while "pram" refers to one with a bassinet or flat sleeping surface, but these days most models allow both positions.

We test and compare strollers from Bugaboo, Phil & Teds, Steelcraft, Target and more. See which ones we rate best for safety in our pram and stroller reviews.

Use the safety features!

Safety is a vital part of our testing strollers and prams. Our testers check various aspects of safety based on the Australian standard AS/NZS 2008:2013, and we also test durability and ease of use. Find out more in our article on how we test.

But safety of the actual model is not the only concern; strollers and prams also require safe use.

CHOICE test coordinator Antonio Bonacruz (who sits on the Standards Australia Committee for children's products) offers some words of wisdom for parents and other caregivers.

"It's crucial for parents to never leave their child unattended, and always use the stroller's safety features," Bonacruz says. "To reduce the risk of falls, the harness must be used while the child is inside. To minimise the risk of the pram rolling away, always use the brakes and tether strap."

CHOICE tips for safe stroller/pram use

Never leave your child unattended.

Always use the stroller's safety features.

Always use the harness to reduce the risk of falls.

Always use the brakes and tether strap to minimise the risk of the pram rolling away.